The State Government of Penang, Malaysia invites submissions for an international competition for design ideas to physically brand the historic city of George Town, Penang in conjunction with its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

On 7th July 2008, George Town and Melaka were inscribed together as a World Heritage Site validating their outstanding ‘cultural heritage’. The built and living environment of the two ‘historic port cities on the Straits of Melaka’ reflect the unique coming together of multi-cultural elements from the Malay Archipelago, India, China and Europe to create an architectural and cultural townscape unparallelled in the world today.

UNESCO assessed 3 outstanding universal values (OUVs) which highlights to the world a rare example of ‘multiculturalism’, forged from the unique ‘meeting’ of various cultures at the historic ports cities of Melaka and George Town.

The built and living environment in George Town is testimony of the meeting and layering of various sub-cultures from India, China, the Malay Archipelago and Europe
a) OUV Criteria (ii) – Multicultural Trading Towns forged from exchanges of Cultures
Melaka and George Town represent exceptional examples of trading towns in Southeast Asia, forged from the mercantile, religious and cultural exchanges’ of several civilizations (Malay, Chinese, Indian and European), with each culture having left its imprint on the built and living environment.

(b) OUV Criteria (iii) – Testimony to Multicultural Tangible and Intangible Heritage
Melaka and George Town are living testimony to the multi cultural tangible and intangible heritage and tradition of Asia and Europe’s colonial power….expressed in the living environment with its great variety of religious and cultural practices, many languages, festivals, art and music, food and lifestyles

(c) OUV Criteria (iv) – Melting pot of Multicultural Architecture and Townscape
Melaka and George Town display a mixture of influences which has created a unique architecture, culture and townscape……. with an exceptional range of eclectic shophouses and townhouses, religious buildings of different faiths, public buildings with colonial influence.

About WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE George TownUNESCO World Heritage Site of Melaka and George Town

The World Heritage Office George Town is an Incorporated Company set up under Invest Penang to manage the World Heritage Site of George Town in Penang, Malaysia.

The primary role of the World Heritage Office George Town is to monitor and safeguard the heritage values of the site, conduct research, training and education programs for stakeholders and to promote the site. The World Heritage Office is headed by a general manager who is advised by a committee of heritage experts.

The shophouse is an urban terrace house characteristic of Asian towns from the 18th – 20th century. The shophouse commonly incorporates a shop or business premise on the ground floor while the family resides on the top floor, providing both convenience and security. The shophouse may also be used totally as dwelling quarters.

Shophouses are built in rows and each row is arranged in blocks contained within a grid of main roads, backlanes and side roads. A shophouse is usually two or three storeys high and is long and narrow, sharing a ‘party’ wall with neighbours on either side. Each row of shophouses is fronted by a continuous sheltered five-foot way and a decorative façade which reveals a historical style.

The Penang shophouse is a perfect example of a green building, using materials that are locally available (lime, clay stone and timber) and suited to local geology and weather conditions. A shophouse also possessing architectural features such as air vents and airwell that help with natural ventilation and cooling.

Earlier impressions which had endeared me to the city were (and are still) being challenged. This intrusion was (and continues to be) in the shape of …. new building forms (that are) out of scale, impersonal faceless buildings that gave neither clue or identity to their use, meaning or purpose”.

Khoo Salma in Preface to ‘Streets of George Town'

How to judge the ‘heritage value’ of your shophouse

Built heritage in George Town has ‘special values or significance’ related to history, use, aesthetics, building methods, design, material science, etc. If these special significance of built heritage is ignored or replaced then built heritage value is eroded.

Historicity: Get to know the historical period and style of your shophouse

Architecture: Learn about multicultural influences and symbolism on the structure, layout features and decorative elements of your shophouse

Materials: Familiarize yourself with the traditional building materials and building methods suited to the local Penang shophouse

A voluntary alliance of Penang heritage groups and activists which includes architects, historians, conservationist and educators, all of whom share one vision which is conservation, propagation and sustainability of George Town’s built and living heritage. CHAT has undertaken to providing a platform for dialogues ,discussion workshops and multi-lateral planning with all the stakeholders.

The Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) was established in 1986 as a charitable NGO, dedicated to promoting Penang's cultural and built heritage. Its objectives are to promote the conservation of Penang’s heritage, to facilitate cultural educational programmes, to organize the public awareness programmes and to cooperate with other like-minded organizations in Malaysia and abroad.

Community-based Arts and Heritage Education ProgramA community based non-profit organization focused on providing heritage education and training for children, young adults, community and stakeholders. Founded since 1999, Arts-Ed provides innovative and best practice heritage education through non- formal arts programs such as Anak-Anak Kota, through publications and performances. It works in collaboration with local and regional arts educators, artists and communities.

A company that provides architectural and cultural consultancy service in Conservation and Restoration of Heritage Building including Architectural Research, Measured Drawing, Illustration, Photography and Adaptive Re-use Design. Specialists in Traditional Chinese Architecture, Cultural and Historical Research.

'Lestari' is an Indonesian/Malay word denoting 'to continue, preserve and revitalize'. Lestari Heritage Network maintains a web-based information platform for Asian heritage organizations such as the Aceh Heritage Community Foundation and Perak Heritage Society.It has incubated several initiatives in Penang such as the Little Penang Street Market and the Penang Global Ethic Project which nurtured the concept of "Street of Harmony".

Badan Warisan Malaysia is the leading national heritage NGO with a reputation for excellence in heritage conservation services. Their work to promote the preservation of historic buildings and places involves community groups, institutions, the private sector and all levels of Government.

They play a pivotal role in advocacy through heritage education and training programmes, as well as demonstrating best practice in the conservation and management of heritage sites. They are a registered charity, and completely independent of government.

Badan Warisan Masjid Melayu was registered in 1993.Its main objective is to preserve the heritage of the Malay community of George Town by organizing activities such as historical discussions on all aspects of Malay culture and heritage. Its fore front is the Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh

Sharing Our StoriesTogether we work for sustainable development in George Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Cultural Heritage Action Team (CHAT) was formed in January 2009. CHAT is an alliance comprising of volunteer conservation architects, historians, heritage practitioners and educationists who have come together to share information, knowledge and problems and lobby forright policies to be implemented to serve and sustain the built and cultural heritage of George Town.

CHAT works on the ground to engage critical gatekeepers in the community and government agencies. It creates platforms that facilitate dialogue and discussion on issues related to cultural conservation and sustainability.

Since February 2009, we have steered stakeholder engagement initiatives by facilitating dialogues, workshops and discussions on built and cultural heritage of the World Heritage Site- George Town.

Stakeholders include:

1)Government agencies

2)Property Owners & Real Estate Agencies

3)House owners and tenants

4)Businesses and SMEs

5)Research groups

6)Building Contractors

Programs in 2009 included:

1)Setting up an advisory team

2)Research and compilation of literature related to the site

3)Development of educational materials and publications

4)Educational walks and talks on built/living heritage conservation for stakeholders

5)Monitoring of site and negotiation of conflict situations

6)Engagement with government agencies setting up of World Heritage Site office

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

UNESCO assessed 3 outstanding universal values (OUVs) which highlights to the world a rare example of ‘multiculturalism’, forged from the unique ‘meeting’ of various cultures at the historic ports cities of Melaka and George Town.

The built and living environment in George Town is testimony of the meeting and layering of various sub-cultures from India, China, the Malay Archipelago and Europe

It is critical that conservation and development efforts in George Town study, document, support and promote the multicultural imprints manifested in - the heritage buildings and townscape- the trade and business activity - the daily cultural expressions and lifestyle .

Melaka and George Town represent exceptional examples of trading towns in Southeast Asia, forged from the mercantile, religious and cultural exchanges’ of several civilizations (Malay, Chinese, Indian and European), with each culture having left its imprint on the built and living environment.

Melaka and George Town are living testimony to the multi cultural tangible and intangible heritage and tradition of Asia and Europe’s colonial power….expressed in the living environment with its great variety of religious and cultural practices, many languages, festivals, art and music, food and lifestyles

(c) OUV 3 – Melting pot of Multicultural Architecture and TownscapeMelaka and George Town display a mixture of influences which has created a unique architecture, culture and townscape……. with an exceptional range of eclectic shophouses and townhouses, religious buildings of different faiths, public buildings with colonial influence.

CHAT ( Cultural Heritage Action Team) is an alliance comprising of volunteer conservation architects, historians, heritage practitioners and educationists who have come together to share information, knowledge and problems and lobby for right policies to be implemented to serve and sustain the built and cultural heritage of George Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site.